EXCLUSIVE: THOUSANDS of Pakistani men have claimed to be 12-year-old Syrian boys in a bid to gain entry to Europe, according to those on the front line of the continuing migrant crisis.

Pakistani men claimed to be young Syrian asylum seekers, Hungarian politicians claim

Over the last two years more than one million migrants and asylum seekers have crossed into the European Union in a bid to begin a new life in the UK, France and Germany, among other western EU countries.

Hundreds of thousands have come from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, countries which have all been ravaged by terror and war.

However, those on the front line of the migrant crisis have now claimed over the last two years they have registered migrants from over SEVENTY countries.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk the mayor of Hungarian town Mórahalom, Zoltán Nógrádi, said he was watching his home fall apart before the ruling Fidesz Party in the country agreed to the erection of a 175km razor wire fence.

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Migrants and asylum seekers line up on the Hungarian border hoping to gain entry to Europe

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The small town suffered “tremendously” during the migrant crisis, according to the mayor, with banks refusing to lend to the area and investors pulling out.

The tourism hotspot attracts more than half-a-million visitors to its spas every year - but this industry took a nose dive when images of migrants clashing with the police were splashed on global news channels.

Up to 4,000 migrants crossed the border every day in summer 2015, until the Government brought in the fence which is now guarded with police, soldiers and dogs.

Charities and left wing politicians across the globe have slammed the decision which they claim leaves those escaping war stranded and scared in Serbia.

But in the town’s experience Syrians, Iraqis and Afghanis were not the only nationals heading for the EU.

Express

Zoltán Nógrádi said he watched his town descend into chaos during the migrant crisis

We registered migrants from 70 countries - they even found a person from Cuba - I don’ understand

Zoltán Nógrádi

Mayor Mr Nógrádi said people in western Europe have no idea of the scale of economic migrants who were coming through.

He said: “We registered migrants from 70 countries - they even found a person from Cuba - I don’ understand.

“I don’t think all 70 countries have war at home or other problems, but of course everybody at first say they are from Syria.

“Everybody was 12-years-old.

“In this situation the authority has to prove the person is not 12 and from Syria.

“There were about three or thousand Pakistani - it was hard to believe they were 12 and from Syria. They could not really prove the truth.”

One county hall official revealed the way they caught some out was by employing Arabic translators to speak with those claiming to be from the middle east - but their cover was blown when it was revealed they did not speak the language.

The town rallied to take care of the migrants, but soon became disenchanted when it became clear they wanted only to move on.

Express

The small city of Mórahalom in Hungary saw the influx of thousands of asylum seekers and migrants

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Migrants on the Serbian border with Hungary have become trapped

Mr Nógrádi, who is also a member of the county assembly, said: “Despite the fact this town gave food, water, health care to several hundred thousand people for several months from our own budget.

“Because we didn’t want to be selfish and careless to this human situation.

“Migrants do not want to stay here. Not in this town or in Hungary. In Latvia they were obliged to take 40 migrants - 38 went back to Germany. They want to go to the UK, Sweden, Germany to go tho those countries where their social welfare system is strong.

“They want a high level of social security.”

The 7,000 population town has relatively few English speakers, but the leader claims they all learnt new phrases from the asylum seekers and migrants.